James Chan

Principal Investigator
Email: james_chan@sifbi.a-star.edu.sg
Research themes: Skin metabolomics and proteomics, Microbial-host skin communication, Transdermal penetration, Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling, Gut-skin axis
Dr James Chan
Research themes: Skin metabolomics and proteomics, Microbial-host skin communication, Transdermal penetration, Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling, Gut-skin axis
Biography
Skin omics as a tool for pathway discovery and mechanistic investigations.
To profile these metabolites, we use a combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and spatial omics to quantify and triangulate their localization within skin. Currently we have the following instruments:
In silico modelling of transdermal penetration and pharmacokinetic modelling.
Microbial-host skin communication
Growing evidence indicate that the commensal skin microbes exert a profound influence on skin health through a number of pathways, such as modulating the skin barrier, tilting the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance, influencing cellular proliferation, migration and maturation. However, our current knowledge remains descriptive, and while it is important to characterize the microbial communities associated with healthy and diseased states, to harness the microbiome we need to develop a clear mechanistic understanding of the means by which the skin microbiome exerts its influence. To this end, we focus on (1) deconvoluting the origin of skin metabolites using stable isotope labelling strategies to determine if they are of microbial or host origin; and (2) identifying candidate bioactive microbial metabolites and querying their function through biochemical screens. By building a mechanistic description of the bidirectional microbial-host relationship, we can start to design strategies to intervene and promote a healthy microbiome, and in turn healthy skin.
Synthetic chemistry
Agilent 1260 preparative purification HPLC system coupled to an infinity diode array detector and an Agilent G6130 Single Quadurople MS system.

Omic Lab Team
Left to Right:
Loh Yan Ping, Aliya Farissa, Melina Setiawan, Ray Putra, James Chan, Lee Sze Han, Karkus Csaba, Chan Puck Wee, Foo Siu Wen
Selected publications
1. LDH Ta, JCY Chan, GC Yap, CH Huang, EH Tham, EXL Loo, NHA Suaini, LPC Shek, N Karnani, A Goh, HPS Van Bever, OH Teoh, YH Chan, C Lay, J Knol, F Yap, KH Tan, YS Chong, MFF Chong, SY Chan, JG Eriksson, KM Godfrey, ECY Chan* and BW Lee*. Prenatal Diet, Plasma Micronutrients/Metabolome And Inflammatory Status Influence The Development Of Atopic Eczema In Early Childhood. Allergy (November 2022) DOI: 10.1111/all.15573
2. WZ Teo, JY See, S Ramazanu, JCY Chan & XV Wu (2022): Effect of lactic acid fermented foods on glycemic control in diabetic adults: a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (September 2022), DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2128032
3. HY Cheng, JCY Chan, GC Yap, CH Huang, DYQ Kioh, EH Tham, EXL Loo, LPC Shek, N Karnani, A Goh, HPS Van Bever, OH Teoh, YH Chan, C Lay, J Knol, F Yap, KH Tan, YS Chong, K Godfrey, ECY Chan, BW Lee and LDH Ta*. Evaluation of stool short chain fatty acids profiles in the first year of life with childhood atopy-related outcomes. Frontiers In Allergy 3 (April 2022) DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.87316
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